[Foxy_Rei]

Yep…those 100mm are just perfect sometimes. Glad I could help.

Foxy…you aren’t saying that you try to hold onto the slide cover when it’s in place? It’s suppose to be decorative not functional and you’re right…it’s barely held up there by those two bearings.

I try not to hold onto it, but it’s hard to work around with my ceilings being so short – 7′ ceilings and I’m 5’4", so when I put my hand above my head on the pole to do a spin it’s right at the bottom of the cover. And when I invert, I have to be careful not to kick the ceiling or dome; so I have to put my legs up then slide down so my feet are just under the cover before I grip and let go with my hands – but I still managed to kick the screw or something without the cover on. I know better than to put my full weight on it, I just come into contact with it more often because of the height issue.

Oh, if it helps any, my video with the Remi move – when I climb up the pole to get into position, my head is touching the dome when I stop (just above the camera’s view), so that’s as high as I can get. :-/

[Foxy_Rei]

Yay! Concrete is best for a dorm situation because of the limited space – if you had joists, it might not leave you with the most desirable location for your pole depending on where they were. Have fun when it gets here! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

Lol thanks, girls https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

And Amcut, you’re hilarious… I love you. Under the circumstances I’m trying to be nice, but if she responds again in a very not-nice way, I’m so letting loose on her…

And I can’t hold my legs up more than a 90 degree angle when they’re straight, either, and I’m so far from a middle split I don’t want to know how small the angle is between my legs… The world is full of not-Felixes, lol https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

I’ll let you guys know what she says.

[Foxy_Rei]

Ooo Empyrean I could kiss you… I completely forgot that they made litty bitty extensions! I might have to order one, because since there is so much of my adjuster screw showing I have to use the adjuster cover, and I don’t like it… It doesn’t feel secure because it’s just being held up there by spring buttons https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif I used to go without it but kept skinning my ankle on the screw. So I think I’d better order one before they discontinue the old style. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

I put this in another thread but I’m going to be redundant…

So I found out I have enough money for a Veena workshop, too, and I was wondering which one I should sign up for – I have Amber’s USPDF workshop at 7 that night, so I was thinking with going with Veena’s earlier one so I had some time to recover in between. Sound like a good idea?

I’m so excited! Now I get to take workshops with both of my biggest pole idols in the same day! \/\/007! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

I’m lucky considering I don’t use a spotter or mats, ever… but that’s what it is, pure luck, so don’t follow my bad example!

Drill "shoulders back and down’ into their heads. I didn’t know about it and had some very sharp, shooting pains in my back between my shoulder blades and soreness when I learned the chopper from not doing that. I’m still not sure if I’m doing it right, but even trying has kept the pain from coming back.

My only fall was a couple weeks ago. I did a half-handspring to butterfly when I was just messing around in my jeans and a sweatshirt. When I went into the butterfly, I started spinning around the pole and lost my grip with the upper hand. Since I was wearing jeans and didn’t have a spotter, down I went. I managed to lift my head so my right shoulder took the hit, but I had a really bad headache after that…

I will say this: it sucks when you’re spinning like that knowing that you’re going to fall and there isn’t anything you can do about it. It’s almost funny… almost.

[Foxy_Rei]

Yup, my ceilings are 7′ even. I emailed X-Pole directly asking if it was possible to use one of their extensions in place of the lower pole piece, and they said yes. I had to get the 720? 750? extension (it was 700-something, lol). The only drawback is that there is a lot of my adjuster screw showing, almost 6 inches. You’ll end up using the extra extension along with one of the smaller ones that comes with the standard kit. My lower main pole still sits in the case unused, lol.

I also have the "classic" top-loading X-Pole, and I assume that the sizes are the same for the new poles… If in doubt, email X-Pole and ask. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

But yes, you can get an X-Pole to fit shorter ceilings, don’t despair. I almost started crying when I thought I wouldn’t be able to get an X-Pole, so I was SOOO happy when I found out there was a way. Good luck!

[Foxy_Rei]

We just got our income taxes done and we’re getting enough money back that I can afford one of Veena’s workshops! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif I’m so excited…

Now I just need to decide which one. I have Amber’s USPDF workshop that evening, so I’m thinking the earlier one would be a better idea so I have some time to recover in between…

Oh, and I have enough to also buy a pair of Poleskivvies shorts that I’ve been drooling over for ages. Yay! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

Someone else started a thread not too long ago about their brass pole seemingly "sweating" every time she cleaned it… I don’t know if this is what you’re experiencing but here’s the thread if you want to look:

http://www.studioveena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2717

Didn’t really come to a conclusion, except that it was a problem exclusive to brass poles. :-/ Good luck

[Foxy_Rei]

I’m a DIYer of learning pole. There are no studios where I live, and I also can’t afford the online lessons at this point in my life. Everything I’ve learned has been from YouTube, videos here and forum posts here.

I have mixed feelings about studios vs. self-taught, though, when one has the option of either or.

Pros of Self-taught: You can move at your own pace and pick which moves that you want to work on. You’re in your own home and don’t have to be self-conscious in front of a class (that would be a problem for me, but obviously not for everyone). You can pole as long as you want, whenever you want. It’s also cheap – the only thing you really need to buy is the pole. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif And you get to learn your own style – some studios are geared more for fitness, others for the sexy angle, etc.

Cons of Self-taught: Not learning body mechanics (shoulders back and down is my nemesis https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_evil.gif ) or proper form for moves, which can result in injury. Also proper progression of moves – some moves look easier than they are and may lead someone to trying it before they’re ready. And there’s just the fun of having pole pals to share the adventure with. Oh, and some people are limited in their home pole space while a studio would probably have higher poles and more space around them.

Pros of Studios: Being shown how to do things instead of trying to figure them out for yourself. Warm-ups, cool-downs (both of which are often skipped easily if you’re going solo), proper body mechanics are included and can reduce the risk of injury. Having scheduled classes and an itinerary of moves helps the student stay disciplined. And there are other people to keep you company (and spot you, lol), as well as access to what’s hopefully a large pole space and crash mats, etc. Not to mention that you may learn more choreography and transitions than you would on your own.

Cons of Studios: Unfortunately, most of the bad things about going to a studio can be chalked up to the industry being not very uniform, regulated or monitored. At this point in time, anyone can open up a studio, it seems. Instructors don’t have to be certified in anything, studios don’t have to be equipped with "real" poles and good equipment, etc. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about a studio opening and it being some run-down building with rough, painted poles and instructors that don’t do anything but say "here’s the move, now you try."

But even if the studio is top-notch, there is always still some drawbacks, I think. If you’re a fast learner, you may be held back by being in a class. If you have self-esteem issues then dancing in front of other people may be stressful. Having the schedule of classes may be bothersome if you want to pole more often. And sometimes, just like with learning at school, having the formal setting and regimen might suck some of the fun out of it (but everyone’s different).

Personally, I like being self-taught… at least to start with. I might go to a studio if there was one here someday just for the company and to expand a bit. I like having my own schedule and list of moves to work on, as well as being able to do it without an audience. I’ve also been blessed that I’m a quick learner and I’ve never had a serious injury and only one minor fall even though I never work with a spotter or use mats (yes I know I’m a horrible example). However, I’ve never even met another person that poles in person and it’s kinda lonely. Plus it would be nice to have some direction whenever I hit a wall of what moves to tackle next, and I also suck with choreography and transitions. And my pole space is very cramped, too. So I could definitely gain something from going to a studio, but I wouldn’t want to do it exclusively.

I do want to put in the good word for Studio Veena, though, for both the lessons and the forums. I don’t have the lessons, but even the forums make it so much easier for people that are self-taught to get some feedback. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

If it makes you feel better, videos here are members only – they won’t show up in internet searches and someone can’t just pop in and view them if they’re not a member (however, membership is free, so…).

I had issues last summer with my MySpace; I posted a blog where I was venting about a touchy subject and I namelessly mentioned some coworkers. Only one of my coworkers had access to my profile (set to private) so I didn’t think it would matter. However, apparently someone else was friends with the coworker’s husband that I was talking about. Whoever it was copied and pasted what I wrote into an email and sent it to them, which led to them complaining to our boss and when that didn’t work the husband called the house posing as an "ex" of mine and insinuated that our daughter was actually his. My husband luckily didn’t fall for it and my boss thought it was a bunch of bull because it had nothing to do with work, but the fact that they resorted to the personal attack of that phone call scared the crap out of me.

I ended up going on a ‘friend deleting" spree – anyone that I hadn’t met in person and/or I didn’t actively know what was going on with them I deleted. I still don’t know who it was… I felt extremely violated because I have my profiles set to private for a reason, and they are my profiles and my blogs and my opinions. I didn’t use names and didn’t do anything wrong.

Anyways, I got paranoid about my privacy and did the same as you with deleting other things, including my videos and pictures on here and my one and only YouTube video. Only just recently have I started to loosen up again, but I still take care to keep my info in check. I don’t give out my real name on the forums here; if anyone wants to add me on Facebook I ask that they send me a PM. (even then, I have a limited profile set up for the people I don’t know that well)

But I don’t think anyone can find you here if you’re careful. Even if people knew you were on the forums here, I’d be extra careful to not advertise your screenname and ask that people don’t use it in wall posts on FB, etc. and delete the ones that do. Make sure your profile pics aren’t clear enough to see your face very well, same with videos. Maybe even "disguise" your house when you shoot videos with blankets so they can’t tell it’s you.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!

[Foxy_Rei]

I still think that Wendy and Anna should have responded, especially since the first contact was through an attorney. It’s rude and unprofessional to not return personal contact, but even worse if it’s through a lawyer – that kind of contact demands attention. Why didn’t they have their attorney respond?

I’m not out to get USPDF, NYPD, or Wendy and Anna, I’m just getting even more frustrated that they haven’t responded to anything. Have they even released a statement or said anything at all? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

I’m starting to beat my head against a wall, here. This thread is going nowhere…

[Foxy_Rei]

Now that I’ve heard from both sides, I’m not sure if I’m more angry or less, to be honest.

Less angry because there are quite possibly some legit reasons for Wendy and Anna’s actions (well, most of their actions). More angry because if they were justified, then why didn’t they communicate with Lian personally to sort it out? Instead they broke the law and made the dancers sign a new contract. As many have pointed out, since USPDF is still fairly new and are learning the ins and outs of this new business venture, why couldn’t they have just said "oops", remember that for next time, but solve the present situation in a professional manner? Instead I’m getting the impression they said "oh snap!" and are scrambling to protect their bottom line. They have no excuse for how they handled the situation, even if they were "right" to begin with.

As far as the membership fee for USPDF goes, I said before that I don’t like the idea of paying to be a member – that’s because I don’t know what the average poler like myself would benefit from it. $60 a year is a lot of money when it just gets you newsletters and preferred seating at a competition. I’m sure for the more serious polers that it would definitely do a lot more. I’m just not going to pay for something that I’m not going to personally benefit from enough to make it worth it, that’s all.

While we all seem to agree that perhaps this has gotten out of hand (with the Facebook page, etc. ), I do think that USPDF needs to understand how the poling community feels about how this situation was handled. While a more subtle, "professional" and civil response would have still done the job, I don’t know if it would have been as effective. Several people have been very hurt and angered by all this and I think USPDF needs to get that message – especially since Lian’s professional response went completely ignored, it seems that a different approach may be required.

Pricing for the workshops should be up to the individual studios, especially since B&P isn’t affiliated with USPDF or NYPD. No one should take offense to the fact that Lian decided to price hers lower, even if she stated that she thought the USPDF ones were overpriced (while it is understandable that USPDF’s prices are higher because of them hosting the event or whatever). She wasn’t taking any of their business since all their workshops were already full and the only obligations she had were to her studio, the dancers, and the students. She wasn’t offering competition, she was offering an alternative.

It is very sad that all this has gotten out of hand, but I don’t think that the pole-public outcry is anything for us to feel guilty about or condemn those that participated. This is a free country and we all have the right to express ourselves – freedom of speech – and seeing as this is a forum not a courtroom or something I don’t see why any of us should feel the need to censor ourselves. We’re having a discussion of our opinions here, not an argument, and none of us have the right to say that anyone here is wrong.

[Foxy_Rei]

And to play devil’s advocate to your devil’s advocate, with all due respect, I think that Wendy and Anna could have at least had to courtesy to speak to Lian about their reasons. If it is a legitimate issue like sponsorship, then why couldn’t they return her phone calls and say so?

However, thanks for your input and offering another perspective on the situation. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

Thanks, Lian… I’ll see if I can come on Thursday, depends on what time it is… so we’ll see.

But I’ll see if I can stop by on Saturday, other than Amber’s workshop I don’t have anything else going on at the moment… maybe I’ll bug my roommates and we’ll all come down! *hint hint, ladies* https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif

I’ll take another look at the money situation and see if I can dig up the money, but it’s doubtful.